Dry air is usually to blame for a cough. Humid air can also bring on asthma, and dust can cause allergies that lead to coughing. In many cases phlegm builds up and causes a severe cough. Coughs usually come from colds and flu, but allergies, asthma, acid reflux, dry weather, smoking and even some medicines can also cause the problem.

Mental stress can make a cold last longer. To deal with a long-lasting cough, reduce stress while you are ill; pushing yourself too hard may make you sicker. One way to stay calm is to rest a lot and sleep 7 to 8 hours a night.

Water, juice and soup help clear phlegm or mucus from the airways. But caffeinated drinks such as tea or coffee dehydrate the body, which is the last thing you want with a cold.

Here are some home remedies for a cough:

• Gargling eases a sore throat and helps reduce coughing. Mix half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water and gargle for 15 minutes, repeating several times with breaks. It is a very effective home remedy.
• Add a teaspoon of honey to a cup of lemon tea. Honey helps reduce coughing and soothes a sore throat. Various studies say honey sometimes works better than cough medicines, because it is a warm food liquid that reduces mucus. But honey must not be given to children under one year old, as it can make the food in their stomach toxic.
• Mix chopped ginger into lemon juice. Ginger helps clear mucus, and adding a teaspoon of honey gives better results.
• Turmeric is quite effective in controlling a cough. Mix half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and a teaspoon of honey into a glass of warm milk. It will quickly reduce the cough.
• Try a piece of candy. Candy helps loosen hard phlegm and reduces coughing.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.